Definitions

jiù (verb) to save; to rescue
jiù (verb) to assist; to help

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

is a phono-semantic compound: the right side (, 'strike') conveys action or intervention, and the left side (qiú, 'to beg') provides the sound. The character originally meant to respond actively to a plea for help, hence 'to rescue' from danger, disaster, or difficulty. This later extended to relieving any adverse condition, extinguishing fires, curing serious illness, alleviating famine, always with the sense of an outside force intervening to avert destruction.

Example Sentences Hide

我。

Qǐng jiù jiu wǒ.

Please save me.

他会你。

Tā huì jiù nǐ.

He will save you.

快打急电话!

Kuài dǎ jíjiù diànhuà!

Quick, call the emergency number!

援队很快赶到了。

Jiùyuán duì hěn kuài gǎndào le.

The rescue team arrived quickly.

这种药能很多人。

Zhè zhǒng yào néng jiù hěn duō rén.

This medicine can save many people.

他们正在努力挽婚姻。

Tāmen zhèngzài nǔlì wǎnjiù hūnyīn.

They are trying hard to save their marriage.

医生了他的命。

Yīshēng jiùle tā de mìng.

The doctor saved his life.

为了那个孩子,他跳进了冰冷的河里。

Wèile jiù nàgè háizi, tā tiàojìnle bīnglěng de hé li.

In order to save that child, he jumped into the icy river.